OUTLAWS CLINCH HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE FOR 2014 MLL PLAYOFFS

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y, – Despite the 12-11 overtime loss to the New York Lizards (9-5) Saturday afternoon, the Denver Outlaws (9-5) clinched home-field advantage for the 2014 MLL Playoffs. Denver will host a semifinal playoff game on Saturday, Aug. 16 at 3:30 p.m. MDT at The University of Denver’s Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium.

The semifinal game will be broadcast live on CBS Sports Network, and the winner will travel to Kennesaw, Ga. for the 2014 Championship Game at Fifth Third Bank Stadium on Aug. 23.

Denver will be either the No. 1 or No. 2 seed, depending on the outcome of the Rochester Rattlers’ game tonight. If Rochester wins, Denver will be the No. 2 seed and host the Lizards in a rematch of today’s game. If Rochester loses, Denver will be the No. 1 seed and host either Boston or Ohio.

Denver took a quick 4-2 lead early in the game behind Drew Snider’s first-quarter hat trick. Rookie Brent Hiken, filling in for the injured Anthony Kelly, was 4-6 (66.7%) on faceoffs in the first quarter against faceoff veteran Greg Gurenlian.

There were a combined nine goals in the second quarter, and three different ties. Eric Law scored two goals and Jeremy Sieverts added a third goal for New York, but the Lizards finished out the second quarter with two quick goals to take an 8-7 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Denver struck first in the second half when Zack Greer was able to get a good shot off thanks to an effective pick by John Grant Jr. Rookie Colin Dunster scored his fifth goal of the season to put Denver up 9-8, before New York added two goals midway through the third to take a 10-9 lead into the fourth.

Law tied it up for the sixth time of the night two minutes, 27 seconds into the fourth quarter with his third goal of the night. New York’s Michael Kimmel notched his second goal of the game to give the Lizards an 11-10 lead with 4:28 left in the game.

Greer set up Junior to tie it up at 11-11 with 2:48 left in the game. New York’s Rob Pannell attempted to end it in regulation and took a shot with under 30 seconds left, but it went off goal and Dillon Roy recovered the ball and sent it down field, but the Outlaws were unable to convert and the teams headed to overtime. Kyle Hartzell sealed the overtime victory for the Lizards, but since the Outlaws only lost by one goal they secured home-field advantage for the playoffs.

Outlaws fans are encouraged to wear orange to the game in support of the Denver Outlaws and use the hashtag #OrangeOut.

Tickets will go on sale online exclusively for season ticket members tomorrow, Sunday, Aug. 10 at noon MDT. If tickets remain after the season ticket member purchase period, they will be made available to Outlaws group leaders, Outlaws single game buyers and DU season ticket members on Tuesday, Aug. 12 at 9 a.m. MDT. If any tickets remain, the general public on sale will begin on Wednesday, Aug. 13 at 9 a.m. MDT. All tickets will be available only at Ticketmaster.com.

Game Notes:

· John Grant Jr. (54), Eric Law (52), and Jeremy Sieverts (48) all finished with top-five marks for most points in a season in team history.

Most Points, Single Season – Outlaws History

Rank

Player

Points

Year

1

Brendan Mundorf

59

2012

2

Chris Bocklet

55

2013

3

John Grant Jr.

54

2014

4

Eric Law

52

2014

5

Jeremy Sieverts

48

2014

6

Brendan Mundorf

47

2007

Brian Langtry

47

2008

8

Drew Snider

46

2013

Drew Westervelt

46

2009

Matt Brown

46

2006

· Eric Law finished the season with 36 goals, good for third most in team history in a single season.

Most Goals, Single Season – Outlaws History

Rank

Player

Goals

Year

1

Chris Bocklet

42

2013

2

Matt Brown

38

2006

3

Eric Law

36

2014

Brendan Mundorf

36

2007

5

Brendan Mundorf

34

2009

6

Brendan Mundorf

32

2012

· John Grant Jr. (26) finished the season with the second most single-season assists in team history. Jeremy Sieverts (18) finished fifth.